Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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French Page · Branch 3174 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 3174
French
p. 6347Σπέρμα. Vient du superflu des organes, et non du superflu des alimens. Preuves par inductions. De là héridité de maladies ou de forces partielles. Singularités dans la constitution. L’âme aussi a ses superflus.
Matrice. Est-elle un organe particulier à un sexe.
Il sort donc de chaque partie un principe, c’est à dire un germe qui porte en soi la propriété de produire une chose semblable à ce qui la produit. Et de ces germes réunis est formé le germe total qui est parfait lorsque etc.
Tout est sans cesse germant ou germinant, exceptés ce qui est d’accident dans chaque individu, c’est à dire excepté ce qui est étranger à la chose qui fait son germe. Or aucune ne peut produire un germe que lorsqu’elle est réunie à toutes les autres, — et germiner en même temps. Car le germe total ou parfait est produit, comme nous l’avons dit, par la réunion universelle des germes de chaque partie. Si certains animaux sont inféconds, cela vient de ce que toutes leurs parties ne sont pas complettes ou bien adaptées les unes aux autres, de ce qu’enfin il y a dans leur individu quelque chose d’étranger à leur nature ou de mal assorti dans leur construction.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 6348Σπέρμα. Comes from the surplus of the organs, and not from the surplus of food. Proofs by induction. Hence the inheritance of diseases or of particular strengths. Peculiarities in the constitution. The soul too has its surpluses.
Womb. Is it an organ peculiar to one sex.
From each part, then, issues a principle, that is, a germ that carries within itself the property of producing something like what produces it. And these germs combined form the total germ, which is perfect when etc.
Everything is ceaselessly sprouting or germinating, except what is accidental in each individual, that is, except what is foreign to the thing that makes its germ. Now none can produce a germ unless it is united with all the others, — and germinate at the same time. For the total or perfect germ is produced, as we have said, by the universal union of the germs of each part. If certain animals are infertile, it is because not all their parts are complete or well adapted to one another, because, in short, there is something in the individual foreign to its nature or ill assorted in its construction.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 3174
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Joubert’s notebooks return to the work of thinking and writing, the demands of friendship, and questions of faith, beauty and conduct. This edition pairs the French with a new English translation, preserving the order of the chosen source and the unfinished character of its fragments. Dates and source references allow readers to follow a thought through time or return to its printed context.
Historical Text and Translation
The French text follows André Beaunier’s 1938 edition of Les Carnets de Joseph Joubert, published by Gallimard from Joubert’s autograph manuscripts. Volume I presents the entries on printed pages 32–475. French and English are aligned paragraph by paragraph, retaining the source order, printed dates and page references so readers can return to the facsimile.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared this new English translation directly from the French, preserving Joubert’s distinctions, recurring images, ambiguities and unfinished thoughts. Translator’s notes clarify wording, references and uncertain readings: Essential keeps notes that help explain a passage, while All includes technical detail. Annotations from the 1938 source edition remain distinct from the new translator’s notes.
Rights
The linked facsimile records identify the French source as public domain in the United States. The new English translation and editorial notes are © 2026 Diotimos, with source annotations and new editorial contributions credited separately. This edition pairs the complete French notebooks with an independent English translation, preserving the distinction between Joubert’s text and its accompanying notes.